This facade of this three-bedroom home, with an optional unfinished basement, looks strikingly contemporary. However, inside remain the tried-and-true features and amenities that today’s families desire.

The covered entry, a boon in inclement weather, leads into a compact foyer. A “pocket office,” which includes a clothes closet, is to the left, and the second bedroom is to the right.

Directly ahead is the great-room complex, which includes both a gas fireplace and a covered patio that looks out to the back garden. The ceiling rises to 10 ½ feet.

The dining room has a doorway leading to the patio, making it the perfect spot for al fresco meals and year-round grilling.

The kitchen is separated from the dining area and the great room by a lower ceiling (nine feet) and a five-sided work island with a double sink. Plenty of counter space in an L-shaped configuration spells efficiency for the cook.

Also overlooking the back garden is the master bedroom. The roomy ensuite boasts both an oval soaker tub and a shower stall. Nearby, the walk-in closet has its own entrance.

The second and third bedrooms share a three-piece bathroom with a tub.

Adjacent is the laundry room, which includes a coat closet and another for cleaning supplies. Access to the double garage means the laundry can double as a mud room.

If a basement is desired, the stairway can be located between the great room and the pocket office, which includes clothes closet and can double as a small bedroom or guest-room.

Exterior finishes include stucco with cut-stone accents. A change of colour marks the front entrance, which is marked by a single pilaster with a cut-stone base. Roof lines are angled.

This home measures 45 feet by 66 feet, for a total of 1667 square feet.